Yasmine Singh, from Queens, New York, is a stay-at-home mum. 

 

Not only is it a role she enjoys, but she's also proud of it and is here to defend it against the nay-sayers. 

 

Writing in Romper, Singh begins by saying that working and stay-at-home mums seem to be constantly yet needlessly pitted against each other. 

 

"I face a lot of criticism and I’m judged harshly because there are a lot of misconceptions out there about stay-at-home moms — we’re lazy, unambitious, and we are taking the easy way out.

 

Worst of all, that we are bad examples of modern women, like we are anti-feminist or something." 

 

 

This, however, need not be the case: 

 

"Working mums are bashed for not spending enough time with their kids and I'm bashed for spending too much time with mine. We can't win." 

 

So she's here to set the record straight and tackle some of the assumptions that stay-at-home mums face on a daily basis. 

 

The owner of a daycare, Singh had a complicated pregnancy and was forced to temporarily leave her job: 

 

"It was a difficult decision to make because I loved my job but I did what I felt was best." 

 

 

Shortly after her daughter was born, being a stay-at-home mum became a choice. Two years later, her decision is still being met met with criticism, even from other mums: 

 

"I'm constantly asked 'when are you going back to work?' or 'how could you just be a stay-at-home mom?' I even get guilt-tripped for 'taking advantage' of my husband by putting all of the pressure on him to support us financially." 

 

Stay-at-home mums have it far from easy, and as a former daycare worker, Singh believes having a toddler at home all day with no back-up is more challenging.

 

"Most of the time, I don't have anyone there to step in if I need a breather. I need a well thought-out plan to do basic things like eating, showering, or using the bathroom." 

 

As for her career, Singh continues, just because it's on pause for now doesn't mean it always will be: 

 

"I might not have a career just yet but that doesn't mean I never will. And why should I be defined by my career or lack thereof anyway?" 

 

 

In what little free time she has, Singh still pursues her ambitions: 

 

"I hate to disappoint any of you, but being a stay-at-home mum  has actually made me more ambitious and driven than ever before." 

 

Being a stay-at-home mum isn't anti-feminist, it's about having the freedom to make the choice to stay at home: 

 

"A woman should not have to opt out of choices, but should have endless choices. As a feminist, I hope all woman have endless opportunities regardless of their sex. Whether they want to be the president or a housewife, the choice they make is entirely up to them." 

 

 

And finally, all mums are equal be they CEO's or stay-at-home: 

 

"I am not better than or less than a working mum... I'm just doing what is right for my family and I shouldn't be bashed for it." 

 

What do you think? Have you ever noticed a divide between working and stay-at-home mums? 

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